An embarrassing 45-0 loss to Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl brought Dan Mullen to Mississippi State in 2008.

Since the first day on the job Mullen has embraced the instate rivalry and is undefeated in two battles for the Golden Egg Trophy.

"Our guys have to know that this game is very, very different," Mullen said. "This is a must win game every single year no matter what your record is. This is the one they remember. This is the one our fans, our students and the people of Mississippi remember. This is the game that we have to win every year and I certainly believe we are going to win it every single year."

Mullen's first victory in 2009 came as quite the upset. MSU finished the season with just five wins but still manage to knock off a Rebel squad that was Cotton Bowl bound 41-27.

"My first year here I don't know if it was considered a successful season or not but we won the Egg Bowl so it certainly felt good for nine month following my first season here," Mullen said.

This year it will be the Bulldogs who are favored in the contest and need a victory Saturday to become bowl eligible. But even a potential bowl birth will take a backseat when the Magnolia State rivals take the field.